Loud kid at Wall-E matinee

[Todd&Copper]

. . .
I think that waiting until children can behave absolutely perfectly inorder to please all the adults that are out there does cause kids to miss out on life. Kids are kids they need to make mistakes in order to learn. Keeping them at home all the time will never give them the same oppertunity to learn and grow as actually going out.

Nobody is saying the child has to be "perfect" but he or she should be quiet when told to do so by his or her parents. If they don't understand "whisper" maybe they should go to the playground, the park or Chuck-E-Cheese, where others will not be trying to listen and follow a storyline.

Whatever. You just don't get it. Nevermind.

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

Whatever. You just don't get it. Nevermind.

Right back at ya!

 

[NYPDwife]

I'm curious to hear what people think.

I took my 5 yo and my 2.5 yo to the 11:15 matinee of Wall-E. The 2.5 yo was a little loud. She wasn't crying or screaming or anything like that, she was just asking questions or making statements about the movie (Oh, the buggy's leaving. Is that a robot? - stuff like that). She was using a regular voice, but her regular voice is loud for a movie theater. I kept asking her to be quiet or to wisper, but she's 2.5, so it wasn't working. After about 10 minutes another dad of an older kid asked me to keep her quite. 5 or 10 minutes later, another dad told me I had to do something. I asked him what he expected at a matinee. He said that my daughter was bothering everybody. I told him if that was the case he should get a manager; and asked him again what he expected at a matinee. Then he suggested that she was too young for the movies.

I honestly didn't know who was right. When I go to a rated G matinee, I expect to hear a lot of kids talking. But maybe I' just have lower expectations or maybe I'm just tolerant. When he suggested that she was too young to go to a movie, I thought that maybe he was right, because I had never considered it. So I took the kids and left. The 5 yo was pretty disapointed and I felt bad for her. My gut still tells me that those two dads were out of line and that kids asking questions is normal behavior for a disney mattinee, but maybe I'm wrong. What do you all think?

With inflation causing movie prices to go up, I expect to hear EVERY SINGLE WORD in a movie. My daughter always loved the movies, even at a few months old (I think it was the lights) so she never cried, my son would cry from time to time, but DH and I would take turns and leave the theater. I can't expect someone to pay $8.00 for a matinee ticket and not hear the movie.

 

[DizBelle]

I don't believe there are "Children's Movies". WALL-E (and any other Disney or Pixar movie) is for everyone including children, adults, and anyone in between. I thoroughly enjoyed WALL-E and I'm 38 and have no children.

I'm getting the impression that as an adult I shouldn't expect to be able to go to and enjoy WALL-E.

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

I don't believe there are "Children's Movies". WALL-E (and any other Disney or Pixar movie) is for everyone including children, adults, and anyone in between. I thoroughly enjoyed WALL-E and I'm 38 and have no children.

I'm getting the impression that as an adult I shouldn't expect to be able to go to and enjoy WALL-E.

Nah -- Wall-E is for everyone! Go and enjoy.

Children just have fewer choices than adults. Tropic Thunder is not a movie I would take my dd to. LOL!!!

 

[GoldieSaysMeep]

Sorry, Rob, you're "that parent" in the movies to me. If you can't keep your kid quiet during a movie you should wait and try again in a few months. Nobody wants to hear your kid do anything but laugh if the movie is funny.

The place to have a small child ask questions and talk through a movie is at home in your den with a video and family members who love that child and willl humor her, not in a theater where children who can behave have paid to see a movie and are expecting to hear the soundtrack only.

Sorry, but you asked...

Agreed.

What do I expect at a Matinee of a G-Rated movie? Occasional giggles from kids when it's funny and quiet 99% of the time like everyone else. Just like I'd expect at any movie.

 

[MELSMICE]

I think that a midday showing of a childrens movie after it has been out for quite some time is an appropriate place for a young child to experience the movies. It is also an appropriate setting to teach that child the proper way of acting.

Agreed, somewhat. I think the free showing of a children's matinee is a better place to teach a young child how to behave in a movie. We have those programs in our area & I took my children to them when they were younger.

A childrens movie in the middle of the day is not a child friendly setting?

I guess I have been mistaken all along. I somehow thought that childrens movies well were in part for children.

I, personally, don't think that a movie theatre is child friendly for a 2.5 year old, but that's JMO.

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

Agreed, somewhat. I think the free showing of a children's matinee is a better place to teach a young child how to behave in a movie. We have those programs in our area & I took my children to them when they were younger.

I agree - the problem with these is (at least in my area when my dd was younger) is that they were during the week and with movies more geared towards the moms and not the kids.

It is an ideal situation that is not always available to everyone.

 

[dreamer17555]

I think that waiting until children can behave absolutely perfectly inorder to please all the adults that are out there does cause kids to miss out on life. Kids are kids they need to make mistakes in order to learn. Keeping them at home all the time will never give them the same oppertunity to learn and grow as actually going out.

Children learn through consequences. She talked too much, too loud- consequence no more movie (in fact it should have happened after the 1st complaint, not the 2nd, and possible even before the 1st complaint if her dad knew she was disturbing others.) Now she is learning and people can enjoy their movie that they paid to see.

Take her to a movie but by all means make sure she learns that talking = going home right away.

-Becca-

 

[Castlebound]

Learning to behave in public settings requires setting and enforcing guidelines. Taking a talkative 2 1/2 to a movie and doing nothing about the talking is not teaching anything other than it is ok to talk. No matter what time of the day I do expect people to be quiet during a movie. I do expect for there to be a LITTLE more noise during a children's movie, but I still expect for parents to curb the noise. My children know that going to a movie is a privilege not a right. They also know that if they act up they get one warning. If they continue then we will leave. We set guidelines and enforce them to benefit our kids, because we want them and everyone else to enjoy the movie. Whether it is a movie or any other public place there is expected behavior. It is our job as parents to teach the appropriate behavior to our kids without inconveniencing other people. By the way I have no problem getting a manager because someone (at any age) is being disruptive in a movie.

 

[I_Know_You2!]

Learning to behave in public settings requires setting and enforcing guidelines. Taking a talkative 2 1/2 to a movie and doing nothing about the talking is not teaching anything other than it is ok to talk. No matter what time of the day I do expect people to be quiet during a movie. I do expect for there to be a LITTLE more noise during a children's movie, but I still expect for parents to curb the noise. My children know that going to a movie is a privilege not a right. They also know that if they act up they get one warning. If they continue then we will leave. We set guidelines and enforce them to benefit our kids, because we want them and everyone else to enjoy the movie. Whether it is a movie or any other public place there is expected behavior. It is our job as parents to teach the appropriate behavior to our kids without inconveniencing other people. By the way I have no problem getting a manager because someone (at any age) is being disruptive in a movie.

Absolutely. If a child can't take instructions about the situation, they aren't learning ANYTHING. It is all just a justification on the parent's part.

 

[hereyago]

My ex's GF has a 13 yo girl who can't zip it watching a show at home and then will ask what is happneing or what was said, shut your pie hole and watch the show. My DD10 has been going to movies since she was 4, but she knows to zip it.

 

[dogluva]

So a 9 year old has more of a "priviledge" to be at a childrens movie in the middle of the day than a 2 & 1/2 year old?

Ticket prices are the same for each inidividual. The op paid to get in just like you did! Actually he lost out more because he did not get to finish the movie.

Did I say anything about "privledge"? Boy, put words into peoples mouth much?

I am saying a nine year old would get more out of it, remember it. Not many two year olds really care if they are at a movie theater or at a playground.

Why should my nine year old who is trying to listen to the movie have to be subjected to a two year old who is being noisy? It would be the same for him if he was being noisey.

 

[rainy~daze]

A childrens movie in the middle of the day is not a child friendly setting?

I guess I have been mistaken all along. I somehow thought that childrens movies well were in part for children.

In part, yes, they are. But not only for them, and not only for one child.

If you have a disruptive child and think you have the right to stay, then pay for everyone else to have an opportunity to see the next showing in peace and quiet.
No one should be a silent zombie at a movie, but, the whole point is if it reaches a point where it is bothering other paying patrons of a movie, then the disruptive person--child or adult--should be removed. This should apply to every public place, but especially a place where people are paying to be there.

 

[dogluva]

Sorry, as a mom to many, I don't enjoy other people's annoying children. Maybe you expect others to delight in the adorable commenting of your little angel through an entire movie, since you obviously think it was fine that the OP's dd did the same, but after dropping over $50 on tickets alone, I would not have been happy.

I care about my children experiencing life - however, I just wait until they are mature enough to enjoy activies appropriately, without disturbing others. Heck, television is not recommended for the under 3 crowd - I don't know why one would think it was necessary to bring a 2 year old to the movies.

This is what I am saying as well. For me to pay for eight tickets and then have it ruined by a loud child is very frustrating.

I also don't think you have to bring a two and a half year old to a movie theater. There will be many times to see a movie when they are old enough. I think in most cases, developmentally, they are not ready to sit for an hour and a half. I just started bringing my youngest about six months ago. She would not have been able to handle it until then.

 

[dogluva]

First of all I am not taking this personally!

My opinion in this case just does not agree with the majority. I agree with your statement that children need to be taught the proper way to behave. In order to do this they need to taken out, even to the movies.

I think that a midday showing of a childrens movie after it has been out for quite some time is an appropriate place for a young child to experience the movies. It is also an appropriate setting to teach that child the proper way of acting.

I also think that not all parents are inconsiderate, which is often the assumption of the posters on the dis. Some are, as are some adults and yes those people should leave but most won't.

I just refuse to let things like a 2.5 year old enjoying a movie, and yes talking when she shouldn't, bother me. I have the power to move my seat (a midday showing over six weeks after opening is not likely to be crowded). While not ideal it is an option.

You can try to "teach" a child all you want to behave in a movie theater but sometimes they are just not ready. My feeling is wait until they are. Yes, you want them to experience life but why force them to do someting they may not be able to handle?

You may think a 2.5 year old misbehaving in a theater is not a big deal. Others who have spent half a paycheck do. My children who not enjoy the movie and it is not fair to them.

 

[MontanaZoo]

You guys are making me want to go see a matinee.

 

[Disney Ella]

I think that a midday showing of a childrens movie after it has been out for quite some time is an appropriate place for a young child to experience the movies. It is also an appropriate setting to teach that child the proper way of acting.

It's only the appropriate setting to teach the child the proper way of acting if you buy out the entire theater. No one else wants to listen to your child "learn" how to behave.

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

Did I say anything about "privledge"? Boy, put words into peoples mouth much?

I am saying a nine year old would get more out of it, remember it. Not many two year olds really care if they are at a movie theater or at a playground.

Why should my nine year old who is trying to listen to the movie have to be subjected to a two year old who is being noisy? It would be the same for him if he was being noisey.

No and I never said that you did. It was directed at another poster - not you. Ever accuse people of something much?

my son who has trouble concentrating when there is a lot of noise.

Maybe your son shouldn't go to the movies - every time I have been they have had the sound on real loud.

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

You can try to "teach" a child all you want to behave in a movie theater but sometimes they are just not ready. My feeling is wait until they are. Yes, you want them to experience life but why force them to do someting they may not be able to handle?

You may think a 2.5 year old misbehaving in a theater is not a big deal. Others who have spent half a paycheck do. My children who not enjoy the movie and it is not fair to them.

It's only the appropriate setting to teach the child the proper way of acting if you buy out the entire theater. No one else wants to listen to your child "learn" how to behave.

First of all I am not the OP. My dd is 7 and behaves very well at the theater. The child in question here is not mine nor do I even know her. I just did not see what the big deal was with the ops dds behavior.

Who says a 2.5 can't handle going to see a childrens movie several weeks after it has been out in the middle of the day? Oh, you do.

Well I disagree. I do not feel that an entire movie must be bought out for a young child to go to the movies. I do not think that it has to be an unpleasant expereince for anyone.

I also have never said that the child in question should have been left to roam and talk freely.